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Archive for December, 2011

C’est l’heure de choisir une colonie de vacances

Saturday, December 31st, 2011

Les feuilles tombent des arbres et le temps commence à se rafraîchir, mais il n’est pas trop tôt pour commencer à réfléchir où vous enverrez vos enfants en colonie de vacances l’été prochain. Les colonies de vacances aux États-Unis ne manquent pas et trouver le bon endroit pour vos enfants est essentiel à leur succès. Vous devez prendre en compte de nombreux facteurs et c’est donc le moment idéal pour commencer à réfléchir à ce que doit offrir cette colonie de vacances.

Les colonies de vacances traditionnelles sont un bon moyen d’introduire vos enfants aux colonies de vacances parce qu’elles offrent un large éventail d’expériences harmonieuses. Les enfants qui sont encore à la recherche d’un sport ou d’un passe-temps favori rencontrent de nombreux succès parce qu’ils ont la chance de participer à de nombreuses activités durant tout l’été.

La durée de la colonie de vacances que vous choisirez est également importante. La plupart des colonies en pension complète acceptent les enfants âgés de sept ans ou plus. Pour bien choisir une colonie, vous devez prendre en compte le style de vie de votre famille, les autres activités et engagements de vos enfants et vos enfants eux-mêmes. Une grande partie des parents choisissent une durée de sept semaines parce que cela leur évite de devoir réfléchir aux nombreuses activités qu’ils devront mettre en œuvre pour occuper et distraire leurs enfants durant les vacances d’été. Cependant, les colonies de plus courtes durées deviennent de plus en plus populaires. Les familles qui ont un budget limité ou un emploi du temps incompatible et ne peuvent donc pas se permettre d’envoyer leurs enfants durant tout l’été, peuvent ainsi toujours tirer parti des colonies de vacances traditionnelles. America’s Finest Summer Camps offre des colonies de vacances allant de trois semaines aux sept semaines complètes.

Considérez également la distance à laquelle vous souhaitez envoyer votre enfant. Alors que certains parents préfèrent envoyer leurs enfants à quelques heures de route de chez eux, d’autres considèrent que ces colonies sont une belle occasion de leur faire découvrir le monde et les envoient à l’étranger. Cette tendance se développe en Europe, où les parents européens souhaitent que leurs enfants acquièrent l’expérience d’une colonie de vacances traditionnelle aux États-Unis. Mais ce choix ne se cantonne pas à l’Europe et de nombreux parents à travers le monde n’hésitent pas à suivre ce pas. De nombreux parents américains pensent que les belles colonies de vacances de la Nouvelle-Angleterre et du nord-est de la Pennsylvanie possèdent une solide réputation et offrent un décor naturel époustouflant et y envoient leurs enfants d’aussi loin que la Californie, la Floride et bien d’autres états.

Vous devrez aussi faire attention aux programmes offerts. En grandissant, la plupart des enfants préfèrent décider de leurs activités quotidiennes et de nombreuses colonies de vacances américaines leur offrent cette possibilité. Cependant, les plus jeunes d’entre eux et surtout ceux qui participent à ces colonies pour la première fois, préfèrent un programme plus structuré où l’on prend à leur place toutes les décisions concernant leurs activités quotidiennes. Pour les enfants indépendants ou aguerris qui savent ce qu’ils veulent, il existe des colonies de vacances qui acceptent les enfants de tous âges et les laissent choisir leurs activités au quotidien.

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Three Steps to Joy

Friday, December 23rd, 2011

For the holidays, we’re featuring an aptly themed guest blog  about “joy” written by Cole Kelly, Director of Camp Weequahic:

As school lets out and families spend time together at the end of each year, we spend a lot of time wishing ‘Joy’ to one another.

It is a joyful occasion, is it not? Parents who work hard throughout the year take a few moments to relax and connect with their children. Kids are thrilled to be out of school for a few weeks and look forward to the celebration of their family’s holiday.  The tv is full of messages of good tidings and cheerful holiday music plays through most speakers.

All of these joyful tidings made me remember what a mentor once said about true joy. He told me about three major points concerning true joy that I’d like to share with you.

First, if you want to be joyful, surround yourself with joyful people.

That is one of reasons I love camp so much. One of the defining themes of camp staff interviews and training is joy – how much counselors have and how willing they  are to express it. The best staff members may not be the most talented singers, hockey teachers, or bunk cleaners. They are, however, always the most joyful.

So, how do you handle those ‘joy suckers’ around you? My friend suggested to be kind to them but just don’t hang out with them. Makes sense to me!

Secondly, true joy comes from devoting your life to something larger than your own personal happiness.

Tony (Camp Weequahic Assistant Director) and I were just talking the other day about our most memorable coaching experiences. Both involved helping a young person achieve a level of athletic competence they didn’t think possible. The look on their faces when they did something they never thought they could do was priceless. There was complete joy in their faces and manner. That was the best reward we could have received!

Camp counselors and campers see this every day. Bunks and cabins that truly come  together becomes an ‘us’ rather than a collection of ‘me’s.’ And that is when the magic really starts to happen.

By the way, did you know that those who devote themselves to their own personal happiness never truly find it? It will always remain out of reach.

Finally, he told me that joy will always be in spite of something else.

I love this point. Camp, as much as we would like to make it so, is never perfect. There will always be a few bugs, a meal that is not as good as mom’s, or an evening activity that is just not your favorite. However, if you are waiting for the conditions to change in your life for joy to arrive, you’ll wait a mighty long time.

Karl Barth said “Joy is a defiant ‘never the less!’ It’s not contingent on circumstances. If it is, we are all in trouble.”

Sure, we can be upset by something. However, this moment of sorrow should be temporary and our primary attitude should be that of gratitude and joy.

So, this holiday season, I wish you the happiness which comes from joyful friends and families, being a part of something larger than yourself, and the recognition that, despite the bumps in life, joy is an attitude you can choose to adopt daily.

Happy holidays, all!

Cole Kelly

Director, Camp Weequahic

*This blog was originally featured on Camp Weequahic’s website on December 23, 2011.

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Try Something New at Summer Camp

Wednesday, December 14th, 2011

It’s a Tuesday afternoon in July at Camp Weequahic in Northeast Pennsylvania and while some campers are busy with the usual summer camp fare-arts and crafts, soccer, roller hockey, theater, etc–others are learning how to clear a ramp with their boards in the new skate park that made its debut in the summer of 2011 and instantly became one of the most popular programs at the camp.  At Camp Laurel South in Maine, campers are learning the great watersport of Crew on Crescent Lakes.  Camp Laurel is bringing campers together as part of a Rock Band while Camp Starlight is introducing them to world of giving back through its new Community Service program.

Everyone knows about the traditional fun stuff that summer camp offers—but more and more, non traditional activities are gaining popularity with campers. No doubt, summer camp is a world steeped in tradition, but it’s also a world of innovation, offering children a chance to think outside the box and reach beyond the everyday through their imaginations.  At summer camp, children can be rock stars, magicians, skate aficionados, ga-ga pros, robot enthusiasts, rocket makers and aspiring chefs.  The setting of summer camp no doubt contributes to the ability of campers to try new activities.  After all, part of the “spirit” of summer camp, as reported by the American Camp Association, is “play”.  Camp is the perfect place for children to place themselves in new situations without feeling threatened or judged.  Thus, they’re relaxed being on a skateboard for the first time or being the drummer in a band.  Maybe this is why so many campers have reported first trying an activity that eventually became a passion at summer camp.

The fact that summer camps have the resources to offer new, exciting activities to children that their parents may not otherwise be able to let them experience is also worthy of mentioning.  Constructing a skate park, a ga-ga pit, or a recording studio in the backyard can be costly.  But at summer camp, such programs provide many children with the benefit of being able to explore new areas.  So next July give your children the opportunity to try something new on a Tuesday afternoon.

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Summer Camp: The Perfect Holiday Gift

Sunday, December 11th, 2011

The holiday season is at hand and so many of us find ourselves searching for that perfect present for the children in our lives.  Sure there are Kindles, iPads, and Wiis, but we’re looking for the gift that will last far beyond fads and trends…the one that lasts long after the decorations have been taken down.  Have you thought about contributing to a summer at camp?  Not only is it a unique gift that gives back, it’s the gift the children in your life can enjoy months after the holiday season has ended.  Summer camp allows them to make new friends, to become part of a summer family, and to cherish memories that will last a lifetime.  It’s also the gift that will help them learn how to understand ritual, routine, and being part of something bigger than themselves.  Countless people of note have attributed the role of summer camp as an integral part of the people they ultimately became.  Denzel Washington credits his acting career to a summer camp experience.  Michael Eisner gives summer camp credit for shaping a large portion of his identity.

Sitting around a campfire, eating s’mores, participating in special events at camp, being part of a bunk or cabin , making that special project in arts and crafts, learning a backhand in tennis, and scoring that homerun are the significant moments that build children’s lives.  It’s also the gift that children cherish for a lifetime.  Friends made at camp are friends for life and many present and former campers count their camp friends as some of their closest and most dear.   The memories and experiences from summer camp reach far beyond the scope of, ‘What gifts did I get that year?’  They reach into the realm of: ‘That’s what helped shape my life.’  President Barack and First Lady Michelle Obama saw the value in sending their daughter Malia to summer camp last year.  Former President George W. Bush is also a summer camp alum.  Long after children have moved past smart pads and video game systems, they will remember their experiences at summer camp.  So this year, when you’re thinking of what to give the special children in your life, consider the gift of summer camp.

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